Evan Turner’s AAU coach made Turner promise him something before he went to Ohio State. His coach gave him John Wooden’s famous little blue book and told him he had to read “wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections” once a year.

Turner knows some of the legendary UCLA basketball coach’s teachings by heart, which is why winning the Wooden Award on Friday was so special.

“It’s definitely a great honor,” Turner said. “Coach Wooden is amazing. He talks about doing the right thing and to always have class.”

The Wooden Award was a two-man race. Turner won with 3,715 points, and Kentucky freshman John Wall finished second at 3,331. Syracuse’s Wesley Johnson was third with 1,871 points.

Connecticut’s Tina Charles won the women’s Wooden Award in the closest race in history. She edged teammate Maya Moore – who won the Wooden Award last year – by one point, 252-251. Charles was with her new team, the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, and will be presented with the award later.

Florida’s Billy Donovan was awarded the legends of coaching award.

Donovan led Florida to consecutive national championships in 2006 and 2007, ousting UCLA in the Final Four both of those years.

After coaching Special Olympics basketball teams during the day, Turner, Johnson and Wall went to Niketown together. Hopefully, Turner didn’t buy much because he’ll have to take his new trophy as his carry-on on the plane. Turner has been named player of the year by five outlets.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta wasn’t at the ceremonies at the Los Angeles Athletic Club because he was out recruiting.

“We’ve got to find the next Evan Turner,” said David Egelhoff, Ohio State’s director of basketball operations.

That won’t be an easy task.

The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He had a buzzer-beater over Michigan and after a 1-3 start, helped Ohio State rally to win a share of the Big Ten championship.

He could’ve left the Buckeyes after his sophomore year, but he opted to return and his NBA stock rose mightily. Turner is expected to be a top-5 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Turner has overcome obstacles, which started when he was an infant.

In his first year of life, he endured the measles, chicken pox, pneumonia and asthma. He was hit by a car when he was just 3.

“I was used to something always being wrong with me,” Turner said. “I had to have that fighter mentality.”

He went into that mode after suffering fractures in his back when he fell flat after a dunk in a game this season. He picked up the little blue book while rehabilitating, and missed just six games.

Turner was raised in a single-parent home, and his mom, Iris James, attended the ceremony. She was instrumental in helping Turner overcome a speech impediment.

“Nobody could understand what I was saying until I was about 12 or 13,” Turner said. “I took speech classes during the day, and my mom was very big on speaking clearly. She was big on grammar and reading out loud. I had always wanted to be a big basketball player, but I didn’t know all of this stuff came with it.”

Turner, wearing a black pinstriped suit and glasses, signed autographs and took pictures before the ceremony Friday, including a basketball for the Ohio State alumni chapter of Orange County/Inland Empire. The raffle helps support scholarships for six students who are currently attending Ohio State.

One man ran up to Turner and said, “Hey, I’ve got a big Buckeye fan on the phone. Talk to him.” Turner happily obliged and chatted with the fan for a few minutes.

“I’m just so proud,” James said. “He overcame a lot. He never gave up. That work ethic came from within.”

Notes: Bryce Jones of Taft High of Woodland Hills won the Wooden Award’s CIF L.A. City Section Player of the Year award.

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